Beverage saving and pipe cleaning device



June 14,'193s.. F, LE 2,120,865

BEVERAGE SAVING AND PIPE CLEANING DEVICE Filed Oct. 18," 193 5 4455/27- F /l LMAN BY W? ATTO R N EYS I Patented June 14, 1938 UNITED STATES BEVERAGE SAVING AND PIPE CLEANING I DEVICE:

I Albert F. Kleman, Dover, N. J. Application October 18, 1935, Serial No. 45,549

' 2 Claims. (o1. 225-12)- or other place where the vessels are situated in order to shut off the several vessels from the systern of piping to be cleansed.

A further object of the invention is to provide an apparatus for cleaning the coils and outlets of a beverage dispensing device, utilizing water or a cleaning solution or a combination of the two which can be left in operation indefinitely without affecting the normal operation of the dispensing system.

The invention will be fully and comprehensively understood from a consideration of the following detailed description when read in connection with the accompanying drawing which forms part of the application, with the understanding, however, that the improvement is capable of extended application and is not confined to the exact showing of the drawing nor to the precise construction described and, therefore, such changes and modifications may be made therein as do not affect the spirit of the invention nor exceed the scope thereofas expressed in the appended claims.

In the drawing,

Figure 1 is an elevational view of the invention attached to a series of beverage containers,

Figure 2 is a top plan view of the device,

Figure 3 is a fragmentary sectional view taken on line 3-3 of Figure 5, V

Figure 4 is a partial side view of the device 40 with the cap and spring removed, and

Figure 5 is a vertical sectional view with parts in elevation.

Referring to the drawing for a more detailed description thereof, the numeral I indicates the body of the device which is in the form of a valve adapted to be attached to a beverage container I through the threaded connection 5. In Figure 1 of the drawing there is disclosed a series of containers since it is customary to store different kinds or qualities of beverages, therefore requiring separate storing containers and separate discharge means therefor in order to avoid intermingling. Each of the containers I is provided with the valve body I and conduits extend therefrom to a distributor header 54. The solution is supplied to the header 54 from the faucet 5|] and the connection 5! which carries water into the container 52 carrying a cleansing solution. The mixed solution is carried into the header 54 from the container 52 by means of the connection 53.

The. body I has'a vertical passage I5 through which the beverage is dispensed from the container I and said passage is controlled by means of the ball-valve 3. A pair of lugs I4 carried by the body I limits the upward movement of the ball-valve 3, and during the dispensing of the beverage, the same passes through the slots 2 provided for this purpose, as shown in Figure 3 of the drawing, into the passage I5. The pres-' sure of the beverage being dispensed raises the' ball-valve 3 from its seat 4.

The line from the header 54 is connected to the body I at '35 and positioned within the body I and controlling the inlet 32, is a plunger valve 3| 7 having a conically shaped end seated at 30. The opposite end of the plunger 3! is engaged by a coil spring I0 which is held in engagement therewith by means of the nut II threadedly engaging the body I. The plunger 3I is moved longitudinally by the pressure of the solution and said plunger moves against the tension of the spring It). For limiting and controlling the movement of the plunger 3| there is provided an adjusting screw I2 positioned within the nut II and the rear end of the plunger 3| will contact the screw I2 during its movement and by contact therewith, the movement of the plunger is limited. If desired to have the plunger move a greater distance, the screw I2 will be adjusted accordingly.

The passage 32 communicates with the passage I5 by means of a pair of semi-circular passages 8 and 9 and it is preferred that passage 8 be in' advance of and larger than the passage 9 in order to force the ball-valve 3 down upon its seat 4 thereby automatically shutting off the flow of beverage from the container and holding the same until pressure is released from the faucet 50. This construction is clearly illustrated in Figure 5 of the drawing and in operation the solution entering the passage 32 will gradually urge the plunger 3| rearwardly against the tension of the spring I0, and since passage 8 will be opened ahead of passage 9, the solution will first enter passage 8 and the pressure thereof force the ball valve 3 against the seat 4. The passage 8 is also preferably made larger than passage 9 so as to permit the first portion of the solution to be disposed therein. It is understood that the beverage within the containers is always under a certain pressure and in order to effect a proper operation of the cleaning device, the pressure of the cleaning solution entering the body I should be greater than the pressure with- 'in the container to which the body is attached.

retarded. r

In the operation of the device water is supplie to the solution carrying container 52 from' the faucet 50 and the mixed solution then enters the header 54 and is carried to each of the bodies I.'

The pressure of the solution entering thepa'ssage r 32 forces the plunger from its seat against the tension of the spring I E and since the passageway 3 is in advance of the passageway 9, the solution will first enter that passageway and the pressure thereof force and hold the ball-valve 3 downwardly upon its seat4 thereby assuring that a mixture will not be obtained With the beverage in the container and said valve Will be held on its seat until the pressure from the faucet 5D is released. The plunger 3| continues to move until its end abuts the screw l2 and the solution is then caused to enter the passageway 9 and upwardly into the passage 15 of the deviceand through the pipes I8 which lead to the coils and other parts used in the dispensing of the beverage. After the pipes and parts have been thoroughly cleansed, the faucet 5B is shut off and the release of the pressure permits the plunger 3| to move into its seat 30 thereby closing the pascleaning beverage dispensing devices which will not interfere with the normal use of such devices nor will it be necessary for the attendant to leave the vicinity of the discharge faucet to manually close the valves carried by the containers. Due to the arrangement of the ball-Valve 3 and plunger valve 3|, there is no danger of'the cleaning solution entering the beverage container during the dispensing of the beverage or the clean- I ing operation. 7

I claim: V I 1. The combination of a plurality of storing containers, a plurality of beverage dispensing pipes connected thereto, a quadruple-ended three-way valve body'positioned in each pipe and having one end adapted to be attached to a con- 'tainer, said valve body including an integral inlet for cleansing fluid and an outlet, a spring controlled plunger valve controlling said inlet, a passageway in the valve body connecting said inlet to said outlet, a ball valve in the valve body for cone trolling the flow of liquid through said valve body fromthe container and a source of fluid under pressure connectible to, said inlet for cleaning the beverage dispensing pipe.

' pensing pipes, a spring-controlled plunger valve controlling'the entrance of said fluid in said inlet, a passageway in the valve body for connecting said inlet to said outlet and a ball valve positioned in the end of said valve body attached to the container for preventing the entrance of said fluid within said containers a r ALBERT F. KLEMAN. 

